Monday December 31, 2012
This morning we drove from Port Townsend to Port Angeles to rent a third pair of snowshoes for Nikki before heading up the mountain into the Olympic National Park to the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.
It was really foggy driving up the mountain. The visibility became less and less the further we went up. It started to snow as well. We made it to the top in 4 wheel drive with chains in the Xterra which the park requires due to the frequent change of throughout the day.
It was cold up there around 30 degrees with a wind on the open ridge by the visitor center. We quickly bundled up before heading to the trail. It was 3 miles one way to the top of Hurricane Hill.
Joe pausing for a picture on the snowy trail
Joe actively snowshoeing
The view from the trail early on in the hike
Nikki & me
Snowshoe poles
Nikki snowshoeing
Joe in Whoville (we just watched The Grinch)
We’re starting to see more beyond the trail.
Gaining some altitude
...and dropping
Alpine bird, a black-capped mountain chickadee I think
Snowy tree creature
We stopped for a lunch break about a mile down the trail on the roof of the summertime trailhead bulletin board at the parking lot.
Visibility is starting to get better.
The sun is trying to peek through.
Nikki beginning to climb Hurricane Hill
We soon had steep hillsides to hike along. You need to make sure you have good footing in this area.
Mountain ridges beyond starting to be seen as the cloudy fog burns off
Jackie and Nikki pausing to take it all in
Blue skies shining down on me
Better view as you gain more elevation
A little clearer view
The ups and downs of snowshoeing
A break in the clouds to the west
The blue skies clear
Nikki’s a natural
The snowshoe perspective
I like getting in the photographer’s way
The snow breaks at the edge are beautiful but warn the potential danger of mountain snow sports.
Sun’s getting brighter & bigger
Bliss
The partial cloud cover at various elevations makes this area truly beautiful
Wispy clouds as sun breaks through
Nikki sliding down the slope
I finally got the man to smile for a picture
Millions of trees
Nikki & Joe
Nikki & Joe from further to prove they aren’t photoshopped
More black-capped mountain chickadees
Can you spot the one perked on the tip of a tree?
The view northeast
The view southwest
The view west
The view south
Snowshoe jump
It’s so hard to leave such a beautiful place
Hehe snowshoe basket boobies
We reached the time where we had to turn around so we could drive back down the mountain before dusk. We didn’t make it to the summit of Hurricane Hill with views back to Port Angeles, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island, but the mountains were majestic on their own. The steep side slopes also deterred us from the very vertical remainder of the hike.
I just couldn’t put the camera down on our trek back.
You do not want to lose your footing here.
Majestic wisps
Winter wonderland
Such a great way to celebrate the last day of 2012
The northeastern blue sky
Joe marking his spot
Happy New Year!
Snow, trees, light, sky
Cute little bird again
Where’s my pumpkin hiding?
Insurmountable beauty
Nikki decided to take the hard way and climb over
How many trees do you count?
Tree peaks
The snow swirls makes this feel like we’re in Whoville again
Streaks of color
Joe’s abominable snow creature
Such difference weather conditions can change a few hours later in the Olympic Mountains
Northern view
Southeastern view
Mountainside
Lower cloud cover
A peek at what’s to come…
Glorious
Blue sky snow glow
Amazing
And it just keeps getting better…
Breathtaking
Another chickadee came to visit during our snack break
Joe “dropped” a piece of salami
Life doesn’t get much better than this. What a year 2012 has been! God is good!
Olympic mountain chickadee in flight
Chickadee perch
Cute little thing
I guess it’s time to head on '
Peaceful
We made it back to the visitor center. This time we were able to see how the windy conditions leave their evidence on the trees.
Hurricane Ridge
Jackie, Nikki & Joe
Great day!
Our GQ pose looking into the sun according to our cross country skier photographer
Hurricane Ridge pull rope lift for skiing & snowboarding
Hurricane Ridge in the winter time
Icicles on the Visitor Center roof
We made our drive back down the mountain to return the snowshoes and have dinner back in Port Townsend.
We ate at a Thai place and then walked around downtown before the 9pm New Years fireworks. Tis was a cool underground sidewalk.
The mayor raising “the anchor” at the strike of 9pm (midnight in New York) and then a firework show.
We spent the night back at the cottage watching New Years Eve TV coverage, playing rummy and cracking a bottle of Chateau Ste Michelle’s sparkling wine.
